A predator is an animal that attacks and feeds on other animals. Some predators are quite specialized and confine their feeding to only one or a few closely related species, whereas a general predator feeds on a wide variety of prey. General predators are very important in landscapes that have a diversity of plants and potential pests. Because they subsist on a variety of insects and mites, general predators will often be present in the landscape before serious pests arrive and will be able to provide immediate assistance in their control. Some of the most common general predators are green lacewings, damsel bugs, assassin bugs, bigeyed bugs, minute pirate bugs, soldier beetles, ground beetles, and spiders.
For more information, see the Natural Enemies Gallery.
